Quality of Life in Patients with Celiac Disease: A Registry-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

Abstract

Background:

 This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of celiac disease (CD) on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD) in Iran.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 86 adult patients with CD, following a GFD for at least 6 months, were recruited from the Golestan celiac registry. Participants completed the Celiac Disease Quality of Life (CD-QoL) questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 16, with descriptive statistics for categorical variables, Mann-Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests for group comparisons (due to non-normal data assessed via Shapiro-Wilk test), and multivariate logistic regression to evaluate clinical factors’ impact on QoL tertiles (significance at P<0.05).

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 41.87 years, with 67.4% females. There were no significant relationships between most demographic variables (sex, age, age at diagnosis, disease duration, ethnicity, marital status) and total QoL scores or any of the four subscales (all P>0.05). However, individuals with non-academic education exhibited significantly higher total QoL scores compared with those with academic education (P=0.028). The "health concerns" subscale score was significantly lower in subjects aged 40 or younger compared with older individuals (P=0.048). The overall mean CD-QoL score was 58.34 ± 26.5 (range 20–100, higher scores indicate better QoL), indicating moderate impairment in QoL.

Conclusions:

CD and strict adherence to a GFD can moderately impair QoL in Iranian patients, with age and educational level influencing specific subscales. These findings underscore the need for targeted support, particularly for younger patients and those with higher education, to improve dietary adherence and overall well-being in this population.